EDITOR'S CHOICE LATEST NEWS Cats and dog poisoned with slug pellets Miss Essex is feeling charitable Historic past of barn revealed Scouts celebrate 80th birthday Calls for safe crossing LATEST SPORT Special day for Mark Aleasha shines at schools championships Soccer academy on the cards LIMITED EDITION MAGAZINE Click here for the latest issue VOTE Do you think your council tax should be spent on funding improvements to the A12? Yes No GET OUR NEWS BY E-MAIL Just register

Most read Comments 1 Ultimatum to allotment holders 2 Squire is singles champ for rare third time 3 Nets up for the next generation 4 Hot Maldon GC contest can't hold back high scores 5 Forrester Park seniors through to county semis 6 Tiptree United's busy weekend 7 Pre-school finds new home 8 Shalford shop to re-open Today | 7 Days 1 Pavilion "criminally unsafe" for too long

Three at once! Ian Hambury, Bill Green and Tony Patel with smoothounds weighing 20lb 8oz, 21lb 8oz and 24lb 8oz, all hooked at the same time on John's boat, the Daphne Carole

Despite the British weather trying its hardest to put a damper on things, the fishing through July and early August has been excellent.

One of the main reasons is that the water has stayed relatively clear and huge numbers of mackerel have stayed in our area. In fact, at the moment there are probably the most mackerel I have ever seen in this area.

A lot of them are big fish - well over a pound - and they show no signs of leaving. And this huge amount of bait fish has kept the big predators in our area. The tope fishing is still good, with catches of as many as a dozen fish being reported and individuals weighing more than 40 pounds.

The smoothound fishing has also been very good, with the big female fish arriving on schedule and many of them topping 15 pounds. The small tides are best for these and hermit crab is the best bait.

On one day a couple of weeks ago, my anglers had the rare experience of hooking three 20lb-plus smoothounds at the same time. I have seen a lot of 20 pounds smoothounds in my time, but never three at once!

The smoothound fishing will continue right through August and September.

On the bigger tides the thornback fishing is quite good, with plenty of good-sized fish taking either mackerel or squid. At the moment, with the water as clear as it is, the thornbacks are only feeding well on the bigger tides, which do put a little bit of colour in the water.

Towards the end of August we normally experience another run of thornbacks which lasts throughout the autumn.

There have not been too many bass about but this will improve towards the end of this month when some of the fish that have been further north start to migrate back past our area.

The fishing inshore is not very good at the moment, with a few eels, small bass and on the big tides, some soles. This should also improve again towards the end of the month and into September.

Check my new website, www.johnrawlefishing.co.uk and ring me on 01621 776445 to tell me of any fishing reports. And don't forget the fishing vouchers for those difficult birthday presents!

6:09pm Thursday 7th August 2008

Print

Email this